damn
[verb]
Synonyms:
- condemn, blast, censure, criticize, denounce, put down
- sentence, condemn, doom

---

Antonyms: save
Contrasted words: deliver, ransom, redeem, rescue, reward
Related Words: castigate, discipline, penalize, punish, banish, cast out, expel, abominate, vituperate

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. damn¹ /dæm/ interjection not polite

1. used when you are very annoyed or disappointed:
Damn! I’ve left my keys in the office.

2. used when something is impressive or surprising:
Damn, she’s old.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. damn² adverb [+ adjective/adverb] informal not polite

1. used to emphasize a statement:
Everything was so damn expensive.
The band sounded pretty damn good.
I’ll damn well do as I please.
You know damn well what I’m talking about.
He damn near (=almost) drowned.
‘It isn’t easy.’ ‘Damn right, it’s not.’

2. damn all especially British English nothing at all:
He knows damn all about cars.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. damn³ adjective [only before noun] spoken not polite

1. used when you are angry or annoyed with someone or something:
Turn off the damn TV!

2. used to emphasize something negative:
It’s a damn shame he left her.

3. not a damn thing nothing at all:
There’s not a damn thing you can do about it.

4. a damn sight more/better etc a lot more, a lot better etc:
He’s a damn sight tougher than you or me.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

IV. damn⁴ verb [transitive]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: dampner, from Latin damnare, from damnum 'damage, loss']

1. damn it/you etc! spoken not polite used when you are extremely angry or annoyed with someone or something:
Damn it, be careful with that!
Stop, damn you!
Damn that telephone!

2. (I’ll be/I’m) damned if ... spoken not polite used to make a negative statement in a strong way:
‘Where’s Wally?’ ‘Damned if I know.’ (=I don’t know)
I’ll be damned if I can find my keys (=I can’t find them).
I’ll be damned if I let him in the house (=I won’t let him in).

3. I’ll be damned spoken not polite used when you are surprised:
Well, I’ll be damned! I haven’t seen him for years!

4. damn the consequences/expense/calories etc spoken used to say that you are going to do something, even though it might have bad results:
The time has come for me to speak out, and damn the consequences.

5. be damned to be given the punishment of going to hell after you die

6. to state that something is very bad:
The critics damned the play on the first night.
damn (somebody/something) with faint praise (=show that you think someone or something is not good by only praising them a little)

7. damned if you do, damned if you don’t spoken used to say that whatever you say or do will be considered wrong
⇒ (as) near as damn it at near¹(8)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

V. damn⁵ noun spoken not polite

1. not give a damn (about somebody/something) to not care at all about someone or something:
I don’t give a damn about her.

2. be not worth a damn to have no value at all:
Her promise isn’t worth a damn.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

damn
dæm
See: give a hang , not worth a tinker's damn

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲